According to the youths, Governor Ortom’s administration has ‘pulverised and pauperised’ the State, resulting in the failure of his government to pay workers’ salaries and pensions over several months.
In a statement signed by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke, BMO noted that the Tiv Youths Council Worldwide had in a statement chided Governor Ortom to refrain from constantly blackmailing the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, while back home he has failed woefully in delivering good governance to his people.
BMO recalled that Governor Ortom had on his arrival in Markudi, capital of Benue state, told waiting reporters that the worst military regime was better than President Buhari’s administration.
“It has therefore become imperative to remind Governor Ortom that were his jaundiced opinion about President Buhari’s administration true, it would have compelled Governor Ortom to pay workers’ salaries and pensioners’ allowances as at when due.
“We also want to inform Governor Ortom that the Buhari administration is famous for its civility, as it has consistently engaged Nigerians constructively, and provided a listening ear to the Nigerian people.
“We believe that the advice of the Tiv Youths Council Worldwide has come at an auspicious time in order to draw the attention of the world to the hypocrisy of a Governor who has failed in discharging his statutory obligations to his state, but finds it convenient to embark on a blame game against the Buhari administration as a way of covering his shortcomings at home.
“We also add our voice to advise Governor Ortom that time has come for him to indeed retrace his steps as the youths rightly advised and focus towards developing Benue State, where, as the youths noted, development has taken the back seat and retrogression the order of the day”.
BMO added that it also agrees with the youths that since 2015 when Ortom came to office, he has been using one excuse or the other to shy away from his responsibilities of governing Benue State constructively, and this has retarded the development of the State.